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Elanor Mondale and Kara Kennedy both just died at age 51. While I was in my 50s, eight coworkers died, most of heart attacks, and all were in their early to late 50s. I decided that the best guarantee of a long life was to survive your 50s so my 60th birthday was cause for celebration and relief. So far, so good!

Anyone else ever notice this trend which most of us, thus far, have been able to avoid or live beyond. I have my theory as to why the 50s are so "dangerous," other than it being a corporate plot to avoid pension payments. What are yours, if any?

Hmmm..... I'd have to really think about this one. In my experience, people drop dead around me all the time, ever since I was a kid. Definately made an impression on me to have intense adventures as much as possible as early as possible. If you notice people in their 50's dropping dead more than other age groups maybe it's something in your area: bad heart doctors? Long cold winters with no exercise? I can hardly wait to hear your theory.

We lost only one I can think of in his fifties. Phd chemical engineer who came down with leukimia. Fought it off for over 10 years. But ran out of marrow transplants.

My father went at 46 with a blocked left lateral descending. I came up with the same thing at 48 but had a triple bypass that still works well 24 years later. Better to be of our generation than our fathers.

My siblings and first cousins have all survived to 50. Most are now in their 60s. None lost yet out of about 25.

Have a couple of good friends who have gone the dementia route. I would not do that. There simply are better ways.

My theory is that in your 50s you may well be at the top of your career pattern and are striving hard to stay competitive and employed with all the added stresses that can entail. You may very well be putting children through college and might have lost equity in your home and thousands from your 401(k). Age discrimination in corporate is legion and there are plenty of entitlement-prone 20-somethings who believe that in two or three years, they should be where it took you 30 to achieve. New technologies come easy to them since they were raised with them and the "speedup" trend of doing a lot more with a lot less adds to the stress as well. There is little, if any, corporate loyalty toward employees any longer as everything is the "bottom line" and that's all that counts with them. Careers are no longer valued and job security is something you'll soon only ready about in history and sociology text books. It's a "brave new world" Older employees may go on overload.

I think having eight coworkers die in their 50's may have been a particular pattern experienced by the OP which could have been an anomaly. I have not experienced that pattern. A few male cousins who died that young had life-long health problems. Many of my uncles died in their 60's while their wives lived on much longer.

I always heard that if you lived to 75, you could probably live a lot longer until all of your organs just wear out. By that time you will outlived cancer, Atheriosclosis, and any other regular illnesses.

I agree;being 64 its seems the 45-55 is a dangerous time for those who ingore their health and never see a doctor much.Kind of the time when thngs catchup to you if you haven't paid attention with like a first heart attack;cancer risk as well has stroke.I saw alot of my firends sufer but luckily most were just slowed dwon and most changing their lifestyle.

I've known a few to die suddenly in their fifties, but that is not the rule.

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